Touring, Motorbike vs Van?

[Name_goes_here]

evening all
Forgive me if this post is a bit long and boring but figured you guys would give me the best advice
After becoming obsessed with the idea of travel due to watching things like Long way round and reading the trip reports on this forum and similar i find myself wanting to do my own trip! Iv done some short weekend camping trips on my old bikes but want something more...

For a while iv been toying with the idea of doing a long trip (like Nath's european trip if you've read his write up) and up untill recently wanted to do it on a bike. But after thinking about the trip in detail (wayyy to much) Iv found myself thinking about doing it in a converted campervan/stealth campervan, there's alot of pros and cons between the two, i.e the van is your shelter so you can park up anywhere and go to sleep in the ready made bed in the back, no need to worry about rain/campsites etc. You can carry more stuff and supplies and securitys not such an issue meaning your free to leave your stuff in the van and go explore and do more activities, something iv always found difficult is leaving my bike with gear unattended. Charging your stuff is easier in the van and tyres etc are easier to source or even carry. Obviously the down sides are things like gettin stuck in traffic, higher tolls and ferry fares, more expensve fuel bill but could this be outweighed by the fact your not spending so much on campsites etc as you can just park up anywhere quiet?
And the biggest draw back of being in the van is you dont get that feeling you get riding the bike along those scenic twisty roads that you dream about whilst being stuck at work!
Fair play to you if you've read this far and it would be great to hear about your views and advice
A
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Current: ZZR600

Previous: TDM850, ZX7R, TRX850,TDM850 (seriously underated bike!),XJ600 (owned for 6 hours), BMW K100, XTZ750, TDM850,GSXR600, FZR400 Streetfighter, XJ600 Streetfighter, ZXR750, FZR600 (Killed in the side of a car) And some little crappy things ridden round fields

[Marmalade]

This time of year, van, stay off the toll roads, there will be little to no traffic since you won't be in the UK
Tyres will last 40,000+ miles and not be bald after 10,000,.

I'm the same about my luggage, worry about it being left strapped to bike.
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[2E]

Welcome to Camper Chat Forums.

Of course we'd recommend you use a camper van like a fag rather than ride your bike down the wonderful roads you've dreamed about.

[/sarcasm]


No, honestly, just take the bike, the fun is overloading with gear, hitting random roads and thinking 'wow' and trying to find supplies in the middle of nowhere!
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Bringing Classic Bikes Back Into Fashion
Rides: 1980 Honda CX500

[G]

I think it partly depends on the 'purpose' of your travelling. I enjoy riding fairly 'gnarly' terrain on a dirt bike, so getting the opportunity to spends whole days and more doing it is fun for me.
I'm not convinced I could come near that level of enjoyment from four wheeled off-roading.

No need to use campsites on a bike - is most places you can usually find somewhere to dump a tent where people won't notice/mind if you arrive late/leave early. I much prefer this personally - no late night drunks to keep you awake or early morning people to get you up too early, toilet is 'ensuite' - as many steps away from the tent as you can be bothered (so standing on the tent half the time).

However, for travelling generally to see other parts of the world, I do like the idea of having a big van, lorry. Just put a deposit down a 7.5t converted race van, so we shall see what happens (hopefully I'll actually get the licence so I can drive it, for a start!).
In the long run I like the idea of getting a larger 12-18t rigid truck and converting it so there's still room for a couple of cars and a few bikes as well as living accomodation - so rock up to the Alps and take a fast car out for a play, then head over to Eastern europe for some motorbike trail riding, etc.
And you've still got a vehicle with more floor area than many people's apartments to go back to at night .

[Name_goes_here]

[pepperami]

In the Early Eighties me and two mates took a old Sherpa van to Germany.
We managed to get a Suzuki TS250, Yamaha DT250, and a Suzuki GT250 in the back plus our camping gear .

we had the best of both worlds , it can be done
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I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[Sparks!]

Last week I got back from 16 days riding around France and a few times I did wonder if I'd enjoy it more with a camper van and my dirt bike in/on the back...

It really depends on the purpose of your travelling as already said!

I really enjoyed riding the bike and camping etc don't get me wrong, and the riding was awesome, but I think a kitted out van with a bit of comfort and space for random junk would be nicer, camp up at a nice site for a couple of days and spend the days trail riding, kayaking etc...

But then it's more expensive and IMO you lose the "freedom" feeling a bit.. it's a difficult one, personally I wouldn't completely replace bike touring holidays though, they definetly have there place!!
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Current Toys: 06 Yamaha WR250F | Nissan 350Z GT | Tech 4 Homes

[Name_goes_here]

[G]

Plenty of motorhome-vans designed to take motorbikes around for all price ranges for various racing uses.

As in wild camping? Pretty easy. I'd tend to try and set up camp latish - maybe 9pm onwards, though generally ends up later. Then just ride until I see somewhere secluded.
It's actually almost easier in England; because of hedgerows, it's usually quite easy to find somewhere that no one will notice you in the morning unless you're unlucky, while there's a lot more open ground in europe. But population density is lower too - if done right, then worse that'll happen is you'll be woken early and have to go a bit earlier than intending. Though did find dogs on farms could be quite annoying and would sense you from a long way off.

My new toy/possibly permanent home: outside, inside, bike space.

[Name_goes_here]

That looks awesome! Bet its costing a pretty penny though.

Where has the warmest climate in europe around december/january? Getting a bit fed up with work and such so may just get another bike and bugger off for a month or two as im not really looking forward to christmas.
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Current: ZZR600

Previous: TDM850, ZX7R, TRX850,TDM850 (seriously underated bike!),XJ600 (owned for 6 hours), BMW K100, XTZ750, TDM850,GSXR600, FZR400 Streetfighter, XJ600 Streetfighter, ZXR750, FZR600 (Killed in the side of a car) And some little crappy things ridden round fields

[G]

Bit over £6k. It's not quite as clean as it looks in the pics and he agreed on the price a bit too quickly, so maybe should have gone lower! But it's got a lot of good points like a 4kw Honda genny, proper sized tail lift, two awnings, built in air compressor as well as all the standard motorhome bit; shower, heating, inverter, gas/electric fridge etc.
Southern Italy is probably going to be the warmest on mainland Europe.

If I get it all sorted, could be tempted to take a trip down to the Costa-del-sol. I think on the coast it's still relatively warm, but a bit inland and there's a ski resort in the nevada mountains outside Granda (was quite surpised to see ski stuff while riding through in October when it was 30 degrees at the bottom!)

[Name_goes_here]

£6k, ouch, my idea of getting a van would of only strecthed to about £1500, more money for fuel and other costs then. Does that truck fall under 7.5tonne category?
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Current: ZZR600

Previous: TDM850, ZX7R, TRX850,TDM850 (seriously underated bike!),XJ600 (owned for 6 hours), BMW K100, XTZ750, TDM850,GSXR600, FZR400 Streetfighter, XJ600 Streetfighter, ZXR750, FZR600 (Killed in the side of a car) And some little crappy things ridden round fields

[G]

Fair enough. I've just sold my house, so wasn't entirely joking when I suggested it might be my new home .

It is 7.5t, yes. As I say, I don't actually have the licence yet; but hopefully get that sorted fairly soon and it seems you can even be 'taught' by anyone that does have that category!

[Name_goes_here]

Doesn't that category come as standard on your licence if you passed your car test before 1996 or something? I looked into doing the course for that and found it would be easier just to do class 2 or category C i think it is as the 7.5 tonne catergory is included and the whole process and test are exactly the same, just a difference in size of the test vehicle. Theres also the CPC licence now as well but you only have to do that if you intend on driving those vehicles for a living.
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Current: ZZR600

Previous: TDM850, ZX7R, TRX850,TDM850 (seriously underated bike!),XJ600 (owned for 6 hours), BMW K100, XTZ750, TDM850,GSXR600, FZR400 Streetfighter, XJ600 Streetfighter, ZXR750, FZR600 (Killed in the side of a car) And some little crappy things ridden round fields

[G]

Think it was maybe 98? If I'd passed my test when I was 17 pretty sure I would have got it.
And yea, I'll be going for the full category C - as I say, pipe-dream plans of having a 12-18t rigid van as a fairly serious mobile home style arangement. Not worrying about comercial stuff for the moment.

[Name_goes_here]

All the best to you, I can imagine the possibilities are endless if you did end up with a rigid equipped with a garage the stuff boys dreams are made of! Africa would be a must with a truck like that and some enduros in the back!
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Current: ZZR600

Previous: TDM850, ZX7R, TRX850,TDM850 (seriously underated bike!),XJ600 (owned for 6 hours), BMW K100, XTZ750, TDM850,GSXR600, FZR400 Streetfighter, XJ600 Streetfighter, ZXR750, FZR600 (Killed in the side of a car) And some little crappy things ridden round fields